Discharge tube display



F. HOTCHNE R 1,803,706 DISCHARGE TUBE DISPLAY May 5, 1931.

Filed May 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ula/1111170 f May '5, 1931.

F. HOTCHNER DISCHARGE TUBE DISPLAY Filed May 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R o r N E v m Patented May 5, 1931 rnnn noTcHNm-or LOS ANGELES, cALmo PATENT OFFICE RNIA mscrmnen' nrsrnnr I Application filed May 25, 1929. Serial No. 366,069.

This invention relates to a discharge tube display and the object thereof is to produce a display 'devicemaking use 'of discharge tubes for the illumination thereof in which a considerable amount of advertising copy or ornamental design is illuminated without the necessity of forming up tubing for the entire amount of display natter shown.

It is a further object to provide a display in which a portionof the display matter may be readily changed without makingany electrical connections.

It is a further object to provide a discharge tube display in which a high percentage of the radiation from the tubes e which is ordinarily wasted by being sent off sideward is conserved and used to illuminate additional copy to that defined by the form-of the tubes. i

The formation of" discharge tubes into small letters and designs is diflicultand more costly than the expense justified by the value of small displays. Hence the application of discharge tubesito work such as window dis- 2 play and department indicators has been A, uiterestricted. By this invention the benet of the brilliant and attractive effects of these tubes is realized in such signs with a minimum of tube bending in the construe- I to tion thereof.

A further object is to provide a portable discharge tube display in which the tubes are protected from injury and in which all electrical devices are self-contained.

Other objects of the invention have to do with various features which will hereinafter be more fully described and set forth in the' ap ended claims.

everal embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings.

gFigure 1 is a front elevation of a sign made accordin to this invention in which a discharge tu e inthe form of a' border serves to illuminate advertisin matter in the form of raised light light re ecting characters within the border.

Figure 2 is a cross section thru the sign shown in Figure 1, taken 'on the line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another form of'this invention in which a discharge tube in the form of a" wordserves to illuminateadditional copy in-the form of raised light reflecting characters positioned above and below the tube.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the sign shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5'is a sectional view of a detail of the sign shown in the preceding views taken on the'line 55, Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modification of this invention shown in the connection in which it is installed in a show Window. In this form of the invention a tube in the form of a word (and an ornamental border serves to illuminate copy which can be written on to the glass and changed atwill.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portable sign in which one glass is readily removable for the purpose of writing copy on the .surface of the same to be illuminated by light from a tube in the'form of an ornamental border.

Thesign shown in Figure 1, indicated by numeral 1, consists of a cabinet 2 enclosing a transformer- 3 and supporting two extended; spadedsh'eets of transparent material such as glasses 4 and 5., The glasses are spaced apart by four spacer bolts 6, 7, 8 and 9. Between the glasses and extending around the border of the sign is the dis charge tube 10, having the terminals 11 and 12 which extend into the cabinet and are connected to the terminals 13 and 1 1 of the transformer by the wires 15 and 16. The transformer is provided with the low tension terminals 17 and 18 which are connected in any suitable manner to the. source of lighting current,

Secured to the back glass 5 are a plurality of raised characters of light reflecting material indicated by 19, 19,'etc. The tube besides being exposed as a border serves to illuminate the characters by means of the light reflected by the inside surfaces of the glasses. It is to be noted that this light is that which is radiated from the tubes in an otherwise non-useful direction, that is, in other than normal an les of view. Thus a high percentage of t e otherwise wasted in the plate 21 into the hollow 30 of the arm 23, and connect to the conductors. The glasses are supported and spaced apart by the the screws 31 and 32 and the spacers 33 and 34 which hold them to the arm 23. The ornamental clamp piece 35 serves to .deliver the strain to the front glass and the felt washers 36, 37, 38 and 39 provide a cushion for the spacers: The clamp piece also serves to conceal the terminals.

The method of securing the various elements together is illustrated by the section in Figure 5. The tube 26 is supported by the posts 40, 40, etc. The characters 41, 41, etc.', are made from glass, cement or any other suitable material and are cemented to the plate 21 as shown in Figures 3. and 4.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 6 a sign is provided for show window mounting. It is constructed with a single sheet of glass 44 to which the tube 45 is mounted by means of the posts 46, 46, etc. The window 47 thru which the sign is to be displayed is utilized in the place of the second, glass, the reflections taking place between the front surface of the glass 44 and the rear surface of the window in the same manner as between the two glasses in,

the forms of the invention illustrated above.

The center of the glass 44 is clear of tubing for the reception of advertising copy which is written on the glass with any medium which will reflect the light and is capable of being quickly removed. It is to be understood that if desired raised letters may be here used as in the forms of the invention described above. The sign thus serves as an announcement sign and may be quickly changed. It is detachable from the supporting cords 48 and 49 at the hooks 50 and 51'. The cords are insulated conductors and they depend from the terminals of the transfer 52 which is located out of the line of vision.

The sign is spaced from the window b Connection is made to the terminals 57 and 58 by means of the conductors 59 and 60. To make changes in the sign, it is unhooked from the cords, thereby also breaking the electrical connection, and then taken to a convenient place, the old message washed off i and new copy written in the space 61.

.Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 7. The two glass lates 62 and 63 are supported apart and a ove the cabinet 64 by means of the cast brackets 65 and 66. Both glasses slide in slots in the brackets, indicated by 67, 67, etc., and may be conveniently removed for the purpose of writing messages on the surfaces of the glasses. It is to be understood that while I prefer to use the front surface of the rear glass, it is possible to use any surface at all for this purpose. The illumination is furnished by the ornamental border tube 68, the terminals 69 and 70 thereof extending thru the bushings 71 and 72 into the cabinet within which is contained a transformer. The space for copy in this case is indicated b 73. o

Various methods may be used for providing the light reflecting characters in the various forms of this invention. Permanent characters may be made by cementing onto the front surface of the rear glass such letters and figures as are commonly used for lettering show windows. Among them are the enameled copper, porcelain and glass letters. When the copy is to be changeable paint pigments or glass frosting may be used. Water colors which can be readily washed off are also suitable. A very efiicient,

" according to this invention.

The invention may be made in many other forms than those particularly set forth herein, and therefor it is not to be limited by the particular forms illustrated but only by the prior art and the appended claims. Claims directed to the modifications shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are made the subject of a divisional application hereof.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric dis lay, a pair of extended spaced sheets of light transmitting material, a tubular light therebetween in the form of a display pattern, and another display pattern disposed between said sheets y of light transmitting material and formed means of the bumper posts 53, 54, 55 and 56.

of light reflecting material, the second said pattern being so positioned as to be rendered luminous by radiation from said tubular light.

2. In an electric display, a pair of spacedsheets of light transmitting material, a tubular light therebetween exposed to view thru one of said sheets as part of the visible display, and means in the form of a display pattern betweensaid sheets of li ht transto space said vsheet of material from said show window, a dischar e tube in the form tioned between the near surfaces of said of a display pattern an means to position said tube between said sheet of material and said window, non-luminous characters posisheet of material and said window; the pro-. portions and spacing of the said elements being such that said non-luminous characters are illuminated by radiation from said dischar e tube. 4. 11 an electric display, a pair of spaced sheets: of transparent material, a discharge tube in the form of a display 'attern exposed to view as part of the visible display and positioned between said'sheets of material, and a plurality of characters of light reflecting material positioned between the near surfaces of said sheets of material; the positioning of the said elements being such that the said characters are illuminated by radiation from said tube reflected back and forth between said sheets until it falls upon said characters. v

5. In an electric display, a pair of sheets of material in spaced relationship to each other, the near surfaces of both said sheets being at least partially light reflecting and one of said sheets being hght transmitting, a source of light therebetween forming part of the display and visible through the last said sheet, and means in the structure-so formed to catch'and redirect a portion of the radiation other than that which is directl transmitted out of said structure thru the ast said sheet for the purpose of delineating a display pattern.

'6. In an electric dlsplay, a pair of sheets of transparent material in spaced relationship to each other, a source of light therebetween exposed to view and in the form of a displa pattern, and means in the structure so ormed to catch and redirect a ortion of the radiation other than that which is directly transmitted out of said structure thru said sheets of transparent material for the purpose of delineating another display also forming part of the visible display and receiving its light from said light emitting display pattern.

- 8. In an electric displa a pair of sheets of material in spaced re ationship to each other the near surfaces of both of said sheets being at least'partially light reflecting and one of said sheets be1n'g at least partially light transmitting, a source of light between said sheets in the form of a display pattern forming part of the visible display and visible by directly transmitted radiation thruthe last said sheet, and another display pattern inthe structure so formed having'the property of redirecting radiation and so positioned as to intercept and redirect a portion of the radiation traversing the space between the near surfaces of said sheets thereby becoming luminous to the eye by redirected radiation transmitted thru the said light transmitting sheet.

9. In an electric display, a show window, a sheet of light transmitting material, means to space said sheet of material from said show window, a discharge tube inthe form of a display pattern between said sheet of material and said show window, and an-.

other display pattern between the near surfaces of said sheet and said show window and formed of material capable of becoming luminous to the 'eye by redirected radiation, the relative positioning of all of said elements being such that a portion of the racliation from said discharge tube is transmitted directly thru said show window and a portion of the radiation is reflected back and forth between the near surfaces of said sheet and said show window thus illuminating the second said display pattern.

10. In an electric display, a show window, a sheet of material having a surface capable of reflecting. at least a portion of the light rays falling upon-it, meansto space said sheet from said showwindow with the said surface closest to said show window, a discharge tube therebetween in the form of a display pattern, and another display pattern,formed in the structure so formed and visible to the e e thru the 'said show window when i uminated and havin the property of redirecting radiation alling "upon it other than by pure reflection, the relative positioning of all of said elements being suchthat a portion of the radiation from said discharge tube is transmitted directly thru said show window and a portion of the radiation is reflected back and show window thus illuminating the second saiddisplay pattern by radiation redirected thereby at an'angle capable of passing thru said show window.

11. In a luminous display, a base, a pair of ornamental brackets extending upwards from said base, a air of sheets of material supported by sai brackets and extending forth between the said sheet and the said L from. one to the other and supp r ed above said base, at least one of said sheets being capable of transmittinggli ht rays,.a dis charge tube between' smds eets the tenni nalsthereof extending into suitable connecangle and one of said sheets having the emitting additional property of transmitting radiation, a tubular light positioned between said sheets in the representation of a display pattern and visible as part of the display-'thru the said light transmitting sheet, and an FRED HOTCHNER.

additional display pattern formed by writing on either of the near surfaces of said sheets with a material capable of scattering radiation incident upon it, the relative positioning of said elements being such that the second said display pattern is illuminated by radiation from said light that has been reflected between said sheets and thereby becomes visible as part, of the display thpu the said light transmitting sheet.

13. A dlsplay sign of the character described having a gaseous conduction light emitting display pattern forming part of the visible dlsplay, a glass plate associated therewith, and a light reflecting display pattern having a discontinuous surface also forming part of the visible display and receiving its light from said light emitting display pattern, a surface of said glass plate aiding by reflection to direct light from said light emitting display pattern to said light reflecting display pattern.

14. A display sign of the character described having a gaseous conduction light display pattern forming part of the visible display, a glass plate associated therewith, and a light reflecting display pattern carried by said glass plate and having a discontinuous surface also forming part of the visible display and receiving its light from said light emitting display pattern, a surface of said glass plate aiding by reflection to direct light from said light emitting display pattern to said light reflecting display pattern. I

15. A display sign of the character described having a gaseous conduction light emitting display pattern forming part of the visible display, ranged lass plates associated therewith, and a lig t reflecting display pattern having a discontinuous surface also forming part of the visible display and receiving its light from said light emltting display pattern, asurface of each of sand glass plates aiding by reflection to direct light from said light emitting display pattern to said light reflecting display pattern.

16. A display sign of the character described having a gaseous conduction light emitting display pattern forming part of the visible display, a pair of parallelly arranged glass plates associated therewith,

a pair of parallelly ar-p 

